*'''1825:''' Fifty-three Norwegian families settled in Fox River, by the way of the Erie Canal.

*'''1825:''' Fifty-three Norwegian families settled in Fox River, by the way of the Erie Canal.

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*:Winnebago War

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*:Winnebago War

*'''1827:''' Fever River Indian War

*'''1827:''' Fever River Indian War

*'''29 July 1829:''' Indians land ceded

*'''29 July 1829:''' Indians land ceded

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*'''1838–1856:''' Improvements in transportation hastened immigration to the northern counties. The National Road reached Vandalia, now in Fayette County, in 1838. The Illinois and Michigan Canal opened in 1848 and ran from Chicago to LaSalle on the Illinois River. The Illinois Central Railroad was completed in 1856, linking southern Illinois to Chicago.

*'''1838–1856:''' Improvements in transportation hastened immigration to the northern counties. The National Road reached Vandalia, now in Fayette County, in 1838. The Illinois and Michigan Canal opened in 1848 and ran from Chicago to LaSalle on the Illinois River. The Illinois Central Railroad was completed in 1856, linking southern Illinois to Chicago.

*'''1839–1846:''' Latter-day Saints (Mormons) from Missouri and Ohio built the city of Nauvoo before their westward exodus. See ''[[Tracing LDS Families]]''for records of Latter-day Saints in Illinois.

+

*'''1839–1846:''' Latter-day Saints (Mormons) from Missouri and Ohio built the city of Nauvoo before their westward exodus. See the&nbsp;''[[LDS Record Selection Table|LDS Record Selection Table]]&nbsp;''for records of Latter-day Saints in Illinois.

*'''1847:''' Hollanders arrived from Krabbenden and settled what is now Roseland in Cook County.

*'''1847:''' Hollanders arrived from Krabbenden and settled what is now Roseland in Cook County.

*'''1861–1865:''' About 250,000 Illinois men served in the Union armed forces during the Civil War.

*'''1861–1865:''' About 250,000 Illinois men served in the Union armed forces during the Civil War.

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*'''1950–1953:''' Over 5.7 million American men and women served in the [http://www.korean-war.com/ Korean War].

*'''1950–1953:''' Over 5.7 million American men and women served in the [http://www.korean-war.com/ Korean War].

*'''1950's–1960's''' The building of [http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/nhs/ interstate highways] made it easier for people to move long distances.

*'''1950's–1960's''' The building of [http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/nhs/ interstate highways] made it easier for people to move long distances.

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*'''1964–1972:''' Over 8.7 million American men and women served in the [http://www.vietnamwar.com/ Vietnam War].

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*'''1964–1972:''' Over 8.7 million American men and women served in the [http://www.vietnamwar.org/ Vietnam War].

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<br>

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<br>

=== Local Histories ===

=== Local Histories ===

Line 92:

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*A general search on the Internet may bring in information. On [http://www.google.com/ Google] search for phrases which include the name of a county or town or even Illinois history.

*A general search on the Internet may bring in information. On [http://www.google.com/ Google] search for phrases which include the name of a county or town or even Illinois history.

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*[http://books.google.com/ Google books] often has local histories available to read for free online. Try entering the name of a town or a county with the state. For example, as I type in the phrase, "Kankakee County, Illinois," several options are presented of which one is titled "Portrait and Biographical record of Kankakee County, Illinois" by Lake City Publishing Company.

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*[http://books.google.com/ Google books] often has local histories available to read for free online. Try entering the name of a town or a county with the state. For example, as I type in the phrase, ''Kankakee County, Illinois,'' several options are presented of which one is titled "Portrait and Biographical record of Kankakee County, Illinois" by Lake City Publishing Company.

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*[Internet Archive] also often has histories of local areas. Again, typing in the name of a town or county may bring several options of books to read. For example, as I type in the words Momence, Illinois,one of the options presented is a book titled, "Memories of Momence Township, 1776-1976." by Elizabeth B. Morrison and the Kankakee County Bicentennial Commission.

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*[http://www.archive.org/index.php Internet Archive] also often has histories of local areas. Again, typing in the name of a town or county may bring several options of books to read. For example, as I type in the words ''Momence, Illinois'',one of the options presented is a book titled, "Memories of Momence Township, 1776-1976." by Elizabeth B. Morrison and the Kankakee County Bicentennial Commission.

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*Find Illinois History resources available at other libraries (WorldCat). Explore how to search [[Worldcat Online Catalog|WorldCat]]

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*The [http://lib.byu.edu/ Family History Archives] has a [http://lib.byu.edu/fhc/index.php family history digital archive] which contains many local histories. The name of a place may be typed into the "title" or "search all" field to learn what is available, or try an advanced search.

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*[http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/cardcatalog.aspx#ccat=hc%3D25%26dbSort%3D1%26 Ancestry.com] has many local histories. To access them, go to the Ancestry Card Catalog and at the keyword search type the name of a county or town. For example, if I type in the words Ford County, Illinois, one of the matches is "History of Ford County, Illnois : from its earliest settlement to 1908." This is a ($) website.

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*[http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/cardcatalog.aspx#ccat=hc%3D25%26dbSort%3D1%26 Ancestry.com] has many local histories. To access them, go to the Ancestry Card Catalog and at the keyword search type the name of a county or town. For example, if I type in the words Ford County, Illinois, one of the matches is "History of Ford County, Illnois&nbsp;: from its earliest settlement to 1908." This is a ($) website.

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<br>

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'''Other Resources'''

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'''Family History Library'''

+

*Find Illinois History resources available at other libraries [http://www.worldcat.org/ (WorldCat)]. One way of finding local histories in WorldCat is to type the name of the place and add the word history.&nbsp; For example, as I type the phrase ''Knox County History, Illinois'',&nbsp; several books appear with one titled "History and families, Knox County, Illinois.&nbsp; To learn more about WorldCat explore the [[Worldcat Online Catalog|WorldCat]] Wiki page.

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The [[Family History Library|Family History Library]], Salt Lake City, Utah has a sizable history collection for the state of Illinois which includes local and county histories. These consist of two main types of records with the first as published histories of the state, its counties, and towns. They often contain maps, information on religious and civic organizations, and biographies of individuals and families who have lived in the area. Second, there are copies of documents on microfilm and in published form that broaden a genealogist’s understanding of the times and places their ancestors lived in. Many of the documents include names of individuals involved in the event being documented. To find histories of specific localities in the [https://www.familysearch.org/#form=catalog&catSearchType=surname Family History Library Catalog], use a [[Family History Library Catalog Place Search|Place Search.]]

+

*The [[Family History Library|Family History Library]], Salt Lake City, Utah has a sizable history collection for the state of Illinois which includes local and county histories. To find histories of specific localities in the [https://www.familysearch.org/#form=catalog&catSearchType=surname Family History Library Catalog], use a [[Family History Library Catalog Place Search|Place Search.]] Copies of records on FHL microfilm and microfiche can be [[Ordering Microfilm or Microfiche from a Family History Center|ordered for viewing at Family History Centers]]. and the [[Family History Library Catalog|FHLC]].<br>

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Additional resources for Illinois history may be found in the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/search/index/catalog-search#searchType=catalog&filtered=true&catSearchType=subject_id&searchCriteria=480497 Illinois-History Sources] topic page of the Family History Library catalog (FHLC). Copies of records on FHL microfilm and microfiche can be [[Ordering Microfilm or Microfiche from a Family History Center|ordered for viewing at Family History Centers]]. and the [[Family History Library Catalog|FHLC]].<br>

''Manual for Illinois Genealogical Research ''Gooldy, Pat, and Ray Gooldy. <ref>''Manual for Illinois Genealogical Research''. Indianapolis, Indiana: Ye Olde Genealogie Shoppe, 1994. {{FHL|738224|item|disp=FHL Book 977.3 D27g}} [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/30799744 Other Libraries (Worldcat)] </ref>The source gives addresses of county courthouses, genealogical societies, and record repositories and gives Illinois locations of record categories such as census, land, military, and church records. A few recent titles not in Wolf's list are in the Gooldy list.

*''A Bibliography of American County Histories'' <ref>Filby, P. William. ''A Bibliography of American County Histories''. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1985. {{FHL|A Bibliography of American County Histories|item|disp=FHL book 973 H23bi}} [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/12356760 Other Libraries (Worldcat)] </ref>

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−

*''United States Local Histories in the Library of Congress'' <ref>Kaminkow, Marion J. ''United States Local Histories in the Library of Congress''. 5 vols. Baltimore: Magna Charta Book, 1975-76. {{FHL|252458|item|disp=FHL Book 973 A3ka}} [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1365920 Other Libraries (Worldcat)] </ref>

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<br>

=== State Histories ===

=== State Histories ===

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Good genealogists strive to understand the life and times of their ancestors. In this sense, any history is useful. But certain kinds of state, county, and local histories, especially older histories published between 1845 and 1945, often include biographical sketches of prominent individuals. The sketches usually tend toward the lauditory, but may include some genealogical details. If these histories are indexed or alphabetical, check for an ancestor's name.

+

Effective genealogists strive to understand the life and times of their ancestors. In this sense, any history is useful. But certain kinds of state, county, and local histories, especially older histories published between 1845 and 1945, often include biographical sketches of prominent individuals. The sketches usually tend toward the lauditory, but may include some genealogical details. If these histories are indexed or alphabetical, check for an ancestor's name.

==== General ====

==== General ====

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*''[[Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois|Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois]]'' <ref>Bateman, Newton, et. al. ''Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois''. Chicago, Illinois: Munsell Pub., 1908.{{WorldCat|657034755}}{{FHL|229637|item|disp=FHL Book 977.31/E1 H2e}} [[Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois|Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois available copies online and in other libraries and FHL]]</ref> Each volume focuses on a different county and contains historical and biographical information on that county. The Illinois State Archives has a biographical index to most of the Bateman volumes but may not have all volumes. [[Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois|Explore a list of available counties and where to access each volume.]] Each volume of the collection is cataloged separately and can be found in the Family History Library Catalog by using a&nbsp;Place Search. Explore how to use the [[Introduction to the Family History Library Catalog|Family History Library Catalog]].

*''[[Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois|Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois]]'' <ref>Bateman, Newton, et. al. ''Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois''. Chicago, Illinois: Munsell Pub., 1908.{{WorldCat|657034755}}{{FHL|229637|item|disp=FHL Book 977.31/E1 H2e}} [[Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois|Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois available copies online and in other libraries and FHL]]</ref> Each volume focuses on a different county and contains historical and biographical information on that county. The Illinois State Archives has a biographical index to most of the Bateman volumes but may not have all volumes. [[Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois|Explore a list of available counties and where to access each volume.]] Each volume of the collection is cataloged separately and can be found in the Family History Library Catalog by using a&nbsp;Place Search. Explore how to use the [[Introduction to the Family History Library Catalog|Family History Library Catalog]].

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*''Illinois: A History of the Prairie State.'' <ref>Howard, Robert P. ''Illinois: A History of the Prairie State.'' Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1972. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/495362 Other Librarie (WorldCat)] {{FHL|254950|item|disp=FHL Book 977.3 H2hr}} </ref>

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*''Illinois: A History of the Prairie State.'' <ref>Howard, Robert P. ''Illinois: A History of the Prairie State.'' Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1972. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/495362 Other Libraries (WorldCat)] {{FHL|254950|item|disp=FHL Book 977.3 H2hr}} </ref>

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*''The Centennial History of Illinois''. <ref>''The Centennial History of Illinois'' Six Volumes. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Centennial Commission, 1917–1920. [http://books.google.com/books/about/The_centennial_history_of_Illinois.html?id=Ek07AAAAIAAJ Online Digital Copy Google Books] </ref>Each volume has a different author and title representing a period of the state’s history. The Sesquicentennial History is an exact reprint of the original series. Some of the Centennial books are being microfilmed.<br>Volume 1 - 5 are available online at [http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=Centennial%20history%20of%20Illinois%20AND%20collection%3Aamericana Internet Archive](type Centennial history of Illinois.)

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*''The Centennial History of Illinois''. <ref>''The Centennial History of Illinois'' Six Volumes. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Centennial Commission, 1917–1920. [http://books.google.com/books/about/The_centennial_history_of_Illinois.html?id=Ek07AAAAIAAJ Online Digital Copy Google Books] </ref>Each volume has a different author and title representing a period of the state’s history. The Sesquicentennial History is an exact reprint of the original series. Some of the Centennial books are being microfilmed.<br>Volumes 1 - 5 are available online at [http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=Centennial%20history%20of%20Illinois%20AND%20collection%3Aamericana Internet Archive] (type Centennial history of Illinois.)

*''A Complete History of Illinois from 1673 to 1884: Embracing the Physical Features of the County'' <ref>Davidson, Alexander, and Bernard Stuvé. ''A Complete History of Illinois from 1673 to 1884: Embracing the Physical Features of the County'' [Country], Its Early Explorations, Aboriginal Inhabitants. Springfield, Illinois: H.W. Rokker, 1884. {{FHL|264086|item|disp=FHL Film 889341 Fiche 6051133 (set of 13) Book 977.3 H2d}}; {{FHL|264086|item|disp=Online Digital Copy}} [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/680441354 Other Libraries (Worldcat) Digital Copy Online] Also available at [http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=32644 www.ancestry.com] ($)</ref>

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*''A Complete History of Illinois from 1673 to 1884: Embracing the Physical Features of the County'' <ref>Davidson, Alexander, and Bernard Stuvé. ''A Complete History of Illinois from 1673 to 1884: Embracing the Physical Features of the County'' [Country], Its Early Explorations, Aboriginal Inhabitants. Springfield, Illinois: H.W. Rokker, 1884. {{FHL|264086|item|disp=FHL film 889341, fiche 6051133 (set of 13) Book 977.3 H2d}}; {{FHL|264086|item|disp=Online Digital Copy}} {{WorldCat|680441354|disp=Various Libraries (Worldcat)}} Also available at [http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=32644 www.ancestry.com] ($)</ref>

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*''Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library.'' &lt;ref&gt;''Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library.'' (Family History Library book {{FHL|977.3 B4i|disp=977.3 B4i}}.) &lt;/ref&gt;Each publication in this series of at least 38 issues is published under a different title. Some issues have been bound together and some have been microfilmed. This collection includes land records and correspondence from the 1700s, court records, census returns, laws that were enacted, records of the Black Hawk War, election returns, and diaries. It includes French and English versions of the early records from the [[Kaskaskia, Illinois|Kaskaskia]] settlement. The best way to locate the series or any of its parts in the [[Introduction to the Family History Library Catalog|Family History Library Catalog]] is to search for the series name, Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library, using the Author/Title Search. The Family History Library does not have all the volumes of this series.

+

*[[Collections of the Illinois State Historical Society|''Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library.'']] {{FHL|977.3 B4i|disp=FHL book 977.3 B4i}}. Each publication in this series of at least 38 issues is published under a different title. Some issues have been bound together and some have been microfilmed. This collection includes land records and correspondence from the 1700s, court records, census returns, laws that were enacted, records of the Black Hawk War, election returns, and diaries. It includes French and English versions of the early records from the [[Kaskaskia, Illinois|Kaskaskia]] settlement. See the [[Collections of the Illinois State Historical Society|Collections of the Illinois State Historical Society]] wiki page to learn where to locate these volumes in the Family History Library as well as through on line sources.

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*''Blue Book of the State of Illinois'' <ref>Illinois. Secretary of State. ''Blue Book of the State of Illinois''. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Secretary of State, 1903–. (Family History Library book {{FHL|977.3 N2ib|disp=977.3 N2ib}}.)</ref> The Blue Book includes many items relative to state government and contemporary history, including a roster of state officials and employees. The Family History Library has volumes for 1921–24, 1951–52, 1955–58, 1969–1970, 1985–86.

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*''Blue Book of the State of Illinois'' <ref>Illinois. Secretary of State. ''Blue Book of the State of Illinois''. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Secretary of State, 1903–. {{FHL|977.3 N2ib|disp=FHL book 977.3 N2ib}}.</ref> The Blue Book includes many items relative to state government and contemporary history, including a roster of state officials and employees. The Family History Library has volumes for 1921–24, 1951–52, 1955–58, 1969–1970, 1985–86.

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*History of Illinois&nbsp;: Hon. Edward F. Dunne; pub. 1933, Chicago

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*History of Illinois: Hon. Edward F. Dunne; pub. 1933, Chicago

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*Illinois and Her People&nbsp;: George W. Smith; pub. 1927, Chicago

+

*Illinois and Her People: George W. Smith; pub. 1927, Chicago

*Encyclopedia of Biography of Illinois: Century Pub. and Engraving Co.;pub. 1892-1902, Chicago

*Encyclopedia of Biography of Illinois: Century Pub. and Engraving Co.;pub. 1892-1902, Chicago

*''The Territorial Papers of the United States'' <ref>United States. Department of State. ''The Territorial Papers of the United States''. 26 volumes. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M0721. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1934–1962. (Family History Library{{FHL|42234|title-id|disp=book 973 N2udt; on 15 Family History Library films beginning with 1421059}}.) </ref>Volumes 2 and 3 pertain to The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, 1787–1803, which included present-day Illinois. Volume 7 contains The Territory of Indiana, 1800–1810, and volumes 16 and 17 contain The Territory of Illinois, 1809–1818. Each volume has an every-name index and contains thousands of names of residents in the area that is now Illinois. The volumes contain lists of residents, taxpayers, and petitioners, and information about persons associated with forts, land offices, Indian interpreters, express riders, and post offices. The original records are in the National Archives.

*''The Territorial Papers of the United States'' <ref>United States. Department of State. ''The Territorial Papers of the United States''. 26 volumes. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M0721. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1934–1962. (Family History Library{{FHL|42234|title-id|disp=book 973 N2udt; on 15 Family History Library films beginning with 1421059}}.) </ref>Volumes 2 and 3 pertain to The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, 1787–1803, which included present-day Illinois. Volume 7 contains The Territory of Indiana, 1800–1810, and volumes 16 and 17 contain The Territory of Illinois, 1809–1818. Each volume has an every-name index and contains thousands of names of residents in the area that is now Illinois. The volumes contain lists of residents, taxpayers, and petitioners, and information about persons associated with forts, land offices, Indian interpreters, express riders, and post offices. The original records are in the National Archives.

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<br>

==== The Draper Manuscripts ====

==== The Draper Manuscripts ====

−

The Draper Manuscript Collection is a significant regional source that includes records of Illinois.

+

The Draper Manuscript Collection is a significant regional source that includes records of Illinois. The collection includes many items of a genealogical or biographical nature.

*''Draper Manuscript Collection'' <ref>Draper, Lyman Copeland. ''Draper Manuscript Collection''. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Library, 197–?. (On 147 Family History Library films beginning with {{FHL|218462|title-id|disp=889098}}.)</ref> The collection consists of nearly 500 volumes of manuscripts, papers, and books collected by Lyman Copeland Draper about the history of the trans-Allegheny West, a region including the western areas of the Carolinas and Virginia, all the Ohio River Valley, and part of the upper Mississippi Valley from the 1740s to 1830. The collection is divided into 50 series. Some series are titled by geographic area, some by the names of prominent frontier leaders, and some by topic. The bulk of the collection consists of notes from interviews, questionnaires, and letters gathered during Draper’s extensive travels and research to learn about frontier history. Personal papers are much more rare than government or military records.

*''Draper Manuscript Collection'' <ref>Draper, Lyman Copeland. ''Draper Manuscript Collection''. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Library, 197–?. (On 147 Family History Library films beginning with {{FHL|218462|title-id|disp=889098}}.)</ref> The collection consists of nearly 500 volumes of manuscripts, papers, and books collected by Lyman Copeland Draper about the history of the trans-Allegheny West, a region including the western areas of the Carolinas and Virginia, all the Ohio River Valley, and part of the upper Mississippi Valley from the 1740s to 1830. The collection is divided into 50 series. Some series are titled by geographic area, some by the names of prominent frontier leaders, and some by topic. The bulk of the collection consists of notes from interviews, questionnaires, and letters gathered during Draper’s extensive travels and research to learn about frontier history. Personal papers are much more rare than government or military records.

−

−

The collection includes many items of a genealogical or biographical nature. For an inventory and partial indexes, see:

*''Guide to the Draper Manuscripts'' <ref>Harper, Josephine L. ''Guide to the Draper Manuscripts''. Madison, Wisconsin: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1983. (Family History Library book {{FHL|977.583%2FM1 A3h|disp=977.583/M1 A3h}}.) </ref>This guide gives series and volume descriptions for some of the Draper manuscripts. There are several indexes at the end of the book, including a name and subject index, an additional personal data index, and a list of references to Illinois.

*''Guide to the Draper Manuscripts'' <ref>Harper, Josephine L. ''Guide to the Draper Manuscripts''. Madison, Wisconsin: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1983. (Family History Library book {{FHL|977.583%2FM1 A3h|disp=977.583/M1 A3h}}.) </ref>This guide gives series and volume descriptions for some of the Draper manuscripts. There are several indexes at the end of the book, including a name and subject index, an additional personal data index, and a list of references to Illinois.

Kaskaskia and Cahokia were important early Indian and French settlements. Their records include:

+

Kaskaskia and Cahokia were important early Indian and French settlements.

*''Kaskaskia Manuscripts, 1714–1816''. <ref>''Kaskaskia Manuscripts, 1714–1816''Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1975. (Family History Library films 956798–814.) </ref>These records were filmed at the [[Randolph County, Illinois|Randolph County]] Clerk and Recorder’s office in 1975. These manuscripts were created by the early French Kaskaskia settlement in Randolph County. Records include tax lists, debts, wills, adoptions, land records, marriages, and selling of slaves. Most of this collection is in French and is not indexed. Some records have been translated into English and are indexed. A partial index to the historical records in this collection is:

*''Kaskaskia Manuscripts, 1714–1816''. <ref>''Kaskaskia Manuscripts, 1714–1816''Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1975. (Family History Library films 956798–814.) </ref>These records were filmed at the [[Randolph County, Illinois|Randolph County]] Clerk and Recorder’s office in 1975. These manuscripts were created by the early French Kaskaskia settlement in Randolph County. Records include tax lists, debts, wills, adoptions, land records, marriages, and selling of slaves. Most of this collection is in French and is not indexed. Some records have been translated into English and are indexed. A partial index to the historical records in this collection is:

−

*''Kaskaskia Records, 1778–1790'' <ref>Alvord, Clarence Walworth, ed. [http://books.google.com/books?id=uiILAAAAIAAJ&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;printsec=frontcover#PPA420,M1 ''Kaskaskia Records, 1778–1790''.] </ref>Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library, Volume 5. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois State Historical Library, 1909. (Family History Library book 977.3 B4i v.5; film 978493.) The preface states that a number of papers have been omitted from this work because "they are of a private character and add very little to knowledge of the history of the period."

+

*''Kaskaskia Records, 1778–1790'' <ref>Alvord, Clarence Walworth, ed. [http://books.google.com/books?id=uiILAAAAIAAJprintsec=frontcover#PPA420,M1 ''Kaskaskia Records, 1778–1790''.] </ref>Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library, Volume 5. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois State Historical Library, 1909. (Family History Library book 977.3 B4i v.5; film 978493.) The preface states that a number of papers have been omitted from this work because "they are of a private character and add very little to knowledge of the history of the period."

*The Raymond H. Hammes Collection maintained at the Illinois State Archives is an excellent collection of early land and other historical records from [[Kaskaskia, Illinois|Kaskaskia]] in Randolph County and settlements along the Mississippi River, including the Cahokia settlement in St. Clair County, which at the time covered a large portion of present-day Illinois. Most of the Hammes collection has been microfilmed and can be found as 10 entries in the Family History Library Catalog in an Author/Title Search under the title Raymond H. Hammes Collection. It is indexed in Consolidated Index for the Raymond H. Hammes Collection cited in the "[[Illinois Land and Property|Land and Property]]" section.

*The Raymond H. Hammes Collection maintained at the Illinois State Archives is an excellent collection of early land and other historical records from [[Kaskaskia, Illinois|Kaskaskia]] in Randolph County and settlements along the Mississippi River, including the Cahokia settlement in St. Clair County, which at the time covered a large portion of present-day Illinois. Most of the Hammes collection has been microfilmed and can be found as 10 entries in the Family History Library Catalog in an Author/Title Search under the title Raymond H. Hammes Collection. It is indexed in Consolidated Index for the Raymond H. Hammes Collection cited in the "[[Illinois Land and Property|Land and Property]]" section.

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<br>

=== United States History ===

=== United States History ===

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The following are only a few of the many sources that are available:

+

The following are only a few of the many sources that are available.

−

*''The Almanac of American History'', <ref>Schlesinger, Jr., Arthur M. ''The Almanac of American History.'' Greenwich, Conn.: Bison Books, 1983. ({{FHL|The Almanac of American History.|title|disp=FHL book 973 H2alm}}) </ref><ref>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/9392978&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;referer=brief_results Worldcat] </ref>This provides brief historical essays and chronological descriptions of thousands of key events in United States history.

+

*''The Almanac of American History'', <ref>Schlesinger, Jr., Arthur M. ''The Almanac of American History.'' Greenwich, Conn.: Bison Books, 1983. ({{FHL|The Almanac of American History.|title|disp=FHL book 973 H2alm}}) </ref><ref>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/9392978 Worldcat] </ref>This provides brief historical essays and chronological descriptions of thousands of key events in United States history.

−

*''Dictionary of American History, Revised ed'' <ref>'' Dictionary of American History, Revised ed., 8 vols''. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1976. ({{FHL|76529|title-id|disp=FHL book 973 H2ad}}.)</ref> <ref>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/2507380&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;referer=brief_results Worldcat] </ref>This includes historical sketches on various topics in U.S. history, such as wars, people, laws, and organizations. A snippet view is available at [http://books.google.com/books?id=Lz9WC9EyF08C&q=9780684138565&dq=9780684138565&ei=F4GxSbisHpDMlQSW3Z36BQ&pgis=1 Google books].

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*''Dictionary of American History, Revised ed'' <ref>'' Dictionary of American History, Revised ed., 8 vols''. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1976. ({{FHL|76529|title-id|disp=FHL book 973 H2ad}}.)</ref> <ref>{{WorldCat|oclc|2507380 Worldcat}} </ref>This includes historical sketches on various topics in U.S. history, such as wars, people, laws, and organizations. A snippet view is available at [http://books.google.com/books?id=Lz9WC9EyF08C&q=9780684138565&dq=9780684138565&ei=F4GxSbisHpDMlQSW3Z36BQ&pgis=1 Google books].

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*''Webster's Guide to American History: A Chronological, Geographical, and Biographical Survey and Compendium'' <ref>'' Webster's Guide to American History: A Chronological, Geographical, and Biographical Survey and Compendium''. Springfield, Mass.: G and C Merriam, 1971. ({{FHL|Webster%27s Guide to American History%3A A Chronological%2C Geographical%2C and Biographical Survey and Compendium|title|disp=FHL book 973 H2v}}) </ref><ref>Limited view at [http://books.google.com/books?id=MVU6DS6Re8gC&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;printsec=frontcover&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;dq=Webster's+guide+to+American+history+:+a+chronological,+geographical,+and+biographical+survey+and+compendium&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;hl=en&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ei=hDhNTtqrLKOHsgLcnJj9Bg&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;sa=X&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;oi=book_result&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ct=result&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;resnum=1&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;q&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;f=false Google Books] </ref><ref>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/142893 Other Libraries (Worldcat)] </ref>This includes a history, some maps, tables, and other historical information.

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*''Webster's Guide to American History: A Chronological, Geographical, and Biographical Survey and Compendium'' <ref>'' Webster's Guide to American History: A Chronological, Geographical, and Biographical Survey and Compendium''. Springfield, Mass.: G and C Merriam, 1971. ({{FHL|280192|item|disp=FHL book 973 H2v}}) </ref><ref>Limited view at [http://books.google.com/books?id=MVU6DS6Re8gC Google Books] </ref><ref>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/142893 Other Libraries (Worldcat)] </ref>This includes a history, some maps, tables, and other historical information.

*''Writings on American History'' <ref>''Writings on American History'' By American Historical Association, Library of Congress, United States National Historical Publications Commission, Published by KTO Press, 1921 {{FHL|244514|title-id|disp=FHL book 973 H23w}} </ref><ref>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1770230 Other Libraries (Worldcat)] </ref>Has the full text available at [http://books.google.com/books?id=Yr48AAAAIAAJ Google Books]

*''Writings on American History'' <ref>''Writings on American History'' By American Historical Association, Library of Congress, United States National Historical Publications Commission, Published by KTO Press, 1921 {{FHL|244514|title-id|disp=FHL book 973 H23w}} </ref><ref>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1770230 Other Libraries (Worldcat)] </ref>Has the full text available at [http://books.google.com/books?id=Yr48AAAAIAAJ Google Books]

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==== Further Reading ====

==== Further Reading ====

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See the[[United States History|United States History]] for information on nationwide historical collections. See also the "[[Illinois Biography|Biography]]" and "[[Illinois Genealogy|Genealogy]]" sections for additional sources. You may wish to explore biography, history and genealogy sections in the wiki at county levels also.

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See the [[United States History|United States History]] for information on nationwide historical collections. See also the "[[Illinois Biography|Biography]]" and "[[Illinois Genealogy|Genealogy]]" sections for additional sources. You may wish to explore biography, history and genealogy sections in the wiki at county levels also.

For other record types that also provide historical background, see the "[[Illinois Church Records|Church Records]]," "[[Illinois Emigration and Immigration|Emigration and Immigration]]," "[[Illinois Military Records|Military Records]]," "[[Illinois Minorities|Minorities]]," and "[[Indians of Illinois|Indians of Illinois]]" portions of this site.

For other record types that also provide historical background, see the "[[Illinois Church Records|Church Records]]," "[[Illinois Emigration and Immigration|Emigration and Immigration]]," "[[Illinois Military Records|Military Records]]," "[[Illinois Minorities|Minorities]]," and "[[Indians of Illinois|Indians of Illinois]]" portions of this site.

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See the [[Illinois Archives and Libraries|Illinois Archives and Libraries]] page for information on how to access information in these facilities in Illinois. <br>

Introduction

Effective family history research requires some understanding of the historical events that affected your family and the records about them. Learning about wars, governments, laws, migrations, and religious trends can help you understand political boundaries, family movements, and settlement patterns.

State, county, and local histories often contain biographical sketches of local citizens, including important genealogical information. This may be one of the best sources of information for some families.

Historical Content

County and local histories often contain biographical and historical information about residents and their families. They may provide the occupation, previous residences, birth date, or birthplace (city, county, and state or country).

Information about a family may be found in a history under the married name of a daughter or sister. Relatives or clues are often found by studying the pages that have biographies of residents or that tell the history of the town or township where an ancestor lived.

Histories are great sources of genealogical information. Many contain biographical information about individuals who lived in the area, including:

Parents' names

Maiden names of women

Place of birth, death, or marriage

Occupation

Migration

Military service

Descendants

Brief History

The following important events in the history of Illinois affected political jurisdictions, family movements, and record keeping.

1699: French priests founded a mission at Cahokia, the oldest permanent white settlement in Illinois, in what is now St. Clair County.

1703:Kaskaskia, now in Randolph County, founded by the French as a Native American mission with Indian converts by Jesuit missionaries.

1720: Fort Chartres founded by settlers from France.

1763: France ceded the Illinois country to Great Britain after the French and Indian War.

1778: Illinois became a county of Virginia after Americans captured Kaskaskia, the British seat of government. Virginia relinquished its claim in 1784.

1787: Congress made Illinois part of the Northwest Territory. The Northwest Territory was divided in 1800 when the area that is now Illinois became a part of Indiana Territory.

1791: Special Act of Congress, 400 acres of land were granted to each head of a family who had made improvements in Illinois before 1788. There were 244 entitled to land of who eighty were Americans and the balance French.

1795: Indians land ceded

1803: Part of the Louisiana Purchase

13 August 1803: Indians land ceded (southwest and central part of Illinois)

3 November 1804: Indians land ceded. (northwest part of Illinois)

30 December 1805: Indians land ceded (southeaster)

3 February 1809: The Illinois Territory was formed when the Indiana Territory was divided.

1812: Chicago Massacre (Indians)

1813: Peoria Indian War

24 August 1816: Indian land ceded.

1818 - 1819: Indians land ceded

3 December 1818: Illinois became a state after the Wisconsin region was transferred to the Michigan Territory.

1825: Fifty-three Norwegian families settled in Fox River, by the way of the Erie Canal.

Winnebago War

1827: Fever River Indian War

29 July 1829: Indians land ceded

1832:Black Hawk War The last serious Indian threat to white settlement ended when Sauk and Fox warriors were driven from the state during the Black Hawk War. Sacs led by Chief Black Hawk massacred white settlers near Rock River. The war started because Chief Black Hawk and some of his people had re-crossed the Mississippi River in order to plant corn in the Sac's old corn field. Settlers killed an Indian holding a truce flag.

1832: Last land cession Indians removed to Kansas.

1832: Kickapoo Indians removed to Kansas

1833: Chicago became a town.

1836: Second Norwegian settlement established at Mission in LaSalle County.

1838–1856: Improvements in transportation hastened immigration to the northern counties. The National Road reached Vandalia, now in Fayette County, in 1838. The Illinois and Michigan Canal opened in 1848 and ran from Chicago to LaSalle on the Illinois River. The Illinois Central Railroad was completed in 1856, linking southern Illinois to Chicago.

1839–1846: Latter-day Saints (Mormons) from Missouri and Ohio built the city of Nauvoo before their westward exodus. See the LDS Record Selection Tablefor records of Latter-day Saints in Illinois.

1847: Hollanders arrived from Krabbenden and settled what is now Roseland in Cook County.

1861–1865: About 250,000 Illinois men served in the Union armed forces during the Civil War.

1871:Great Chicago Fire Fire destroyed much of Chicago's downtown area and its public records.

1898: Over 300,000 men were involved in the Spanish-American War which was fought mainly in Cuba and the Philippines.

1917–1918: More than 26 million men from the United States ages 18 through 45 registered with the Selective Service. World War I over 4.7 million American men and women served during the war.

1930's:The Great Depression closed many factories and mills. Many small farms were abandoned, and many families moved to cities.

1940–1945: Over 50.6 million men ages 18 to 65 registered with the Selective Service. Over 16.3 million American men and women served in the armed forces during World War II.

1950–1953: Over 5.7 million American men and women served in the Korean War.

1950's–1960's The building of interstate highways made it easier for people to move long distances.

1964–1972: Over 8.7 million American men and women served in the Vietnam War.

Local Histories

Some of the most valuable sources for family history research are local histories. Published histories of towns, counties, and states usually contain accounts of families. They describe the settlement of the area and the founding of churches, schools, and businesses. You can also find lists of pioneers, soldiers, and civil officials. Even if your ancestor is not listed, information on other relatives may be included that will provide important clues for locating your ancestor. A local history may also suggest other records to search. Local histories are extensively collected by the Family History Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies.

Online Resources

A general search on the Internet may bring in information. On Google search for phrases which include the name of a county or town or even Illinois history.

Google books often has local histories available to read for free online. Try entering the name of a town or a county with the state. For example, as I type in the phrase, Kankakee County, Illinois, several options are presented of which one is titled "Portrait and Biographical record of Kankakee County, Illinois" by Lake City Publishing Company.

Internet Archive also often has histories of local areas. Again, typing in the name of a town or county may bring several options of books to read. For example, as I type in the words Momence, Illinois,one of the options presented is a book titled, "Memories of Momence Township, 1776-1976." by Elizabeth B. Morrison and the Kankakee County Bicentennial Commission.

Ancestry.com has many local histories. To access them, go to the Ancestry Card Catalog and at the keyword search type the name of a county or town. For example, if I type in the words Ford County, Illinois, one of the matches is "History of Ford County, Illnois : from its earliest settlement to 1908." This is a ($) website.

Other Resources

Find Illinois History resources available at other libraries (WorldCat). One way of finding local histories in WorldCat is to type the name of the place and add the word history. For example, as I type the phrase Knox County History, Illinois, several books appear with one titled "History and families, Knox County, Illinois. To learn more about WorldCat explore the WorldCat Wiki page.

State Histories

Effective genealogists strive to understand the life and times of their ancestors. In this sense, any history is useful. But certain kinds of state, county, and local histories, especially older histories published between 1845 and 1945, often include biographical sketches of prominent individuals. The sketches usually tend toward the lauditory, but may include some genealogical details. If these histories are indexed or alphabetical, check for an ancestor's name.

General

The following are histories concerning Illinois available through a library, archive or online. To find an extensive list of books about Illinois history, go to linkpendium.com - Illinois - History.

The Centennial History of Illinois. [3]Each volume has a different author and title representing a period of the state’s history. The Sesquicentennial History is an exact reprint of the original series. Some of the Centennial books are being microfilmed.Volumes 1 - 5 are available online at Internet Archive (type Centennial history of Illinois.)

A Complete History of Illinois from 1673 to 1884: Embracing the Physical Features of the County[10]

Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library.FHL book 977.3 B4i. Each publication in this series of at least 38 issues is published under a different title. Some issues have been bound together and some have been microfilmed. This collection includes land records and correspondence from the 1700s, court records, census returns, laws that were enacted, records of the Black Hawk War, election returns, and diaries. It includes French and English versions of the early records from the Kaskaskia settlement. See the Collections of the Illinois State Historical Society wiki page to learn where to locate these volumes in the Family History Library as well as through on line sources.

Blue Book of the State of Illinois[11] The Blue Book includes many items relative to state government and contemporary history, including a roster of state officials and employees. The Family History Library has volumes for 1921–24, 1951–52, 1955–58, 1969–1970, 1985–86.

History of Illinois: Hon. Edward F. Dunne; pub. 1933, Chicago

Illinois and Her People: George W. Smith; pub. 1927, Chicago

Encyclopedia of Biography of Illinois: Century Pub. and Engraving Co.;pub. 1892-1902, Chicago

Genealogy Trails has several resources for the history of Illinois. These include:

Origins of Illinois County Names

Historical Anecdotes

Illinois Forts

Timeline of the History of Illinois 1690 - 1825

Signers of the 1818 Constitution of Illinois

Prairies and Pioneers of Illinois

Government Topics

People, Places and Things including church information

Epidemics

Slavery and other African Ameircan topics of Interest

And more

Federal Papers

An important source with historical information about persons involved in the settlement of Illinois from 1800 to 1818 is:

The Territorial Papers of the United States[12]Volumes 2 and 3 pertain to The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, 1787–1803, which included present-day Illinois. Volume 7 contains The Territory of Indiana, 1800–1810, and volumes 16 and 17 contain The Territory of Illinois, 1809–1818. Each volume has an every-name index and contains thousands of names of residents in the area that is now Illinois. The volumes contain lists of residents, taxpayers, and petitioners, and information about persons associated with forts, land offices, Indian interpreters, express riders, and post offices. The original records are in the National Archives.

The Draper Manuscripts

The Draper Manuscript Collection is a significant regional source that includes records of Illinois. The collection includes many items of a genealogical or biographical nature.

Draper Manuscript Collection[13] The collection consists of nearly 500 volumes of manuscripts, papers, and books collected by Lyman Copeland Draper about the history of the trans-Allegheny West, a region including the western areas of the Carolinas and Virginia, all the Ohio River Valley, and part of the upper Mississippi Valley from the 1740s to 1830. The collection is divided into 50 series. Some series are titled by geographic area, some by the names of prominent frontier leaders, and some by topic. The bulk of the collection consists of notes from interviews, questionnaires, and letters gathered during Draper’s extensive travels and research to learn about frontier history. Personal papers are much more rare than government or military records.

Guide to the Draper Manuscripts[14]This guide gives series and volume descriptions for some of the Draper manuscripts. There are several indexes at the end of the book, including a name and subject index, an additional personal data index, and a list of references to Illinois.

Index to Lyman C. Draper Manuscripts.[15]The name index gives the series and volume numbers, but is not complete.

Kaskaskia and Cahokia

Kaskaskia and Cahokia were important early Indian and French settlements.

Kaskaskia Manuscripts, 1714–1816. [16]These records were filmed at the Randolph County Clerk and Recorder’s office in 1975. These manuscripts were created by the early French Kaskaskia settlement in Randolph County. Records include tax lists, debts, wills, adoptions, land records, marriages, and selling of slaves. Most of this collection is in French and is not indexed. Some records have been translated into English and are indexed. A partial index to the historical records in this collection is:

Kaskaskia Records, 1778–1790[17]Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library, Volume 5. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois State Historical Library, 1909. (Family History Library book 977.3 B4i v.5; film 978493.) The preface states that a number of papers have been omitted from this work because "they are of a private character and add very little to knowledge of the history of the period."

The Raymond H. Hammes Collection maintained at the Illinois State Archives is an excellent collection of early land and other historical records from Kaskaskia in Randolph County and settlements along the Mississippi River, including the Cahokia settlement in St. Clair County, which at the time covered a large portion of present-day Illinois. Most of the Hammes collection has been microfilmed and can be found as 10 entries in the Family History Library Catalog in an Author/Title Search under the title Raymond H. Hammes Collection. It is indexed in Consolidated Index for the Raymond H. Hammes Collection cited in the "Land and Property" section.

United States History

The following are only a few of the many sources that are available.

The Almanac of American History, [18][19]This provides brief historical essays and chronological descriptions of thousands of key events in United States history.

Dictionary of American History, Revised ed[20][21]This includes historical sketches on various topics in U.S. history, such as wars, people, laws, and organizations. A snippet view is available at Google books.

Webster's Guide to American History: A Chronological, Geographical, and Biographical Survey and Compendium[22][23][24]This includes a history, some maps, tables, and other historical information.

Further Reading

See the United States History for information on nationwide historical collections. See also the "Biography" and "Genealogy" sections for additional sources. You may wish to explore biography, history and genealogy sections in the wiki at county levels also.